What is the primary goal of reconstruction? Reunification, punishment, civil rights, other? (Thesis) After the war that put brother against brother and father against son, and the social and economical unrest that black people felt, there needs to be a plan of reconstuction to bring the country together again. The goal of reconstruction after this devastating war is to once again have the north and the south a part of the same country and coexist in a peaceful manner. Confederate and border states will be readmitted to the country with ease. The goal is to have the least amount of punishment for ex-confederates, while still remaining fair to the union. There needs to be a leap toward racial equality in the sense that slavery will no longer be, and citizenship will be granted to all black men and women and the right to vote will be granted to black men. While the economy will be rocky at first, as the black citizens settle into their new lives, by contributing to society through their jobs, and taxes being raised slightly, after a few years the economy should be restored.
What should be done to the ex-Confederates?
Ex-Confederates will be given full citizenship without the right to run for or hold office. These men will not be punished physically but will be need to give an oath to the Union giving support. They will be presented with jobs that will benefit the rebuilding of the south such as producing cash crops, building government buildings, railroads, and building housing for the freedmen. These will be paid jobs and will help the community flourish at the same time.
What should be done for the freedmen?
The freedmen need to receive the right to vote. If black people are going to be integrated into our economy they need to have paying jobs to contribute to society. In order for this to occur, businesses in the south need hire black workers. As incentive to do this, the states that attempted to leave the union will have to promise to allow black people into the workforce for the same pay as the whites. There are thousands of freedmen entering our community that need to be educated and have access to schooling, while it will still be segregated to keep the peace in the white communities. To pay for this education plan, northerners will be taxed slightly so that the teachers of the freedmen will be paid.
Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments?
No confederate soldiers who ranked higher than colonel should be given the right to vote. While their state may regain its spot back in the union, the confederates did commit treason even if they are not being punished to the fullest by it. If they were completely allowed the right to vote, radical democrats/white supremacists would be elected and the government would not be given a fair opportunity at reconstruction. Leaders in the new Southern state governments should swear in with an oath to be loyal to the nation.
What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation?
Due to the fact that the Southern states never officially seceded (because that is unconstitutional) punishments will not be severe. For a state to be restored into the Union, there would have to be at least 20% of the state population that would vote to return to the Union. Of this 20%, there should be a reasonable percentage (between 10%-15%) of black male voters. This way, black men and essentially their families could have representation in government, and the Southern states would be able to make the Union whole again with some ease. Southern politicians from formally seceded states are not allowed to hold any positions in the Union office. The states must also pledge their loyalty to the union and their acceptance of black citizens in society, such as jobs. This ensures that the economy will flourish with white and black people in the workforce.
How should the Southern economy be restored?
The economy would be extremely unstable due to the loss of free labor, however if the southern states are slightly taxed for 5 years, the economy will be much improved. This money will go to things like the wartime debt and to the improvements of the south, (railroads, housing etc).To balance out the increased tax, the government will provide aid to people in search of jobs so that state debt can be eliminated as much as possible.
What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South?
The Union will treat the seceded states as conquered territories and split them into six military zones in which the soldiers will patrol and keep peace with an emphasis on the areas in which the KKK is committing treason through violence and terrorist attacks. Some will be stationed near jobs with a heavier black population of employees to, again, keep the peace. Once a territory has met the requirements to become a state and congress has approved it the Union troops will move out little by little still helping and monitoring reconstruction. However the troops will not move out all at once to avoid take over by the KKK and to assure that the peace will be kept as much as possible.
Re-state the primary goal of reconstruction. (Thesis re-stated)
After the devastation that occurred between the north and south, large reconstruction measures must be made. The primary goals of this reconstruction era are racial equality, peace between the states, and economic re-growth. To ensure racial equality, freedmen and women will be granted citizenship and men will be granted the right to vote. To ensure peace between the side, military troops will keep both sides at ease. Their slow departure will allow all citizens to adjust to their new society with both races living together. To ensure the continuation of the economy after the loss of free labor, the south will be taxed to lessen the wartime debt and the north will be taxed to educate the recently freed men, women and children. Once they are properly educated it will be easier to attain a job and climb higher in the social ranks. Both sides will have to compromise in order to please the other, and to gain what they desire as well.
Prepare a response to an "opposition" group. In your response you will need to point out the flaws and weaknesses and/or the strengths of their plan. The day after we present, be sure to upload your response at the bottom of their page. You will also need to be ready to challenge their plan in class, as their group presents.
After the war that put brother against brother and father against son, and the social and economical unrest that black people felt, there needs to be a plan of reconstuction to bring the country together again. The goal of reconstruction after this devastating war is to once again have the north and the south a part of the same country and coexist in a peaceful manner. Confederate and border states will be readmitted to the country with ease. The goal is to have the least amount of punishment for ex-confederates, while still remaining fair to the union. There needs to be a leap toward racial equality in the sense that slavery will no longer be, and citizenship will be granted to all black men and women and the right to vote will be granted to black men. While the economy will be rocky at first, as the black citizens settle into their new lives, by contributing to society through their jobs, and taxes being raised slightly, after a few years the economy should be restored.
What should be done to the ex-Confederates?
Ex-Confederates will be given full citizenship without the right to run for or hold office. These men will not be punished physically but will be need to give an oath to the Union giving support. They will be presented with jobs that will benefit the rebuilding of the south such as producing cash crops, building government buildings, railroads, and building housing for the freedmen. These will be paid jobs and will help the community flourish at the same time.What should be done for the freedmen?
The freedmen need to receive the right to vote. If black people are going to be integrated into our economy they need to have paying jobs to contribute to society. In order for this to occur, businesses in the south need hire black workers. As incentive to do this, the states that attempted to leave the union will have to promise to allow black people into the workforce for the same pay as the whites. There are thousands of freedmen entering our community that need to be educated and have access to schooling, while it will still be segregated to keep the peace in the white communities. To pay for this education plan, northerners will be taxed slightly so that the teachers of the freedmen will be paid.
Who should be able to vote and hold office in the new Southern state governments?
No confederate soldiers who ranked higher than colonel should be given the right to vote. While their state may regain its spot back in the union, the confederates did commit treason even if they are not being punished to the fullest by it. If they were completely allowed the right to vote, radical democrats/white supremacists would be elected and the government would not be given a fair opportunity at reconstruction. Leaders in the new Southern state governments should swear in with an oath to be loyal to the nation.
What requirements must be met before states regain full rights and representation?
Due to the fact that the Southern states never officially seceded (because that is unconstitutional) punishments will not be severe. For a state to be restored into the Union, there would have to be at least 20% of the state population that would vote to return to the Union. Of this 20%, there should be a reasonable percentage (between 10%-15%) of black male voters. This way, black men and essentially their families could have representation in government, and the Southern states would be able to make the Union whole again with some ease. Southern politicians from formally seceded states are not allowed to hold any positions in the Union office. The states must also pledge their loyalty to the union and their acceptance of black citizens in society, such as jobs. This ensures that the economy will flourish with white and black people in the workforce.How should the Southern economy be restored?
The economy would be extremely unstable due to the loss of free labor, however if the southern states are slightly taxed for 5 years, the economy will be much improved.This money will go to things like the wartime debt and to the improvements of the south, (railroads, housing etc).To balance out the increased tax, the government will provide aid to people in search of jobs so that state debt can be eliminated as much as possible.
What role should Union troops play in policing, governing, or rebuilding the South?
The Union will treat the seceded states as conquered territories and split them into six military zones in which the soldiers will patrol and keep peace with an emphasis on the areas in which the KKK is committing treason through violence and terrorist attacks. Some will be stationed near jobs with a heavier black population of employees to, again, keep the peace. Once a territory has met the requirements to become a state and congress has approved it the Union troops will move out little by little still helping and monitoring reconstruction. However the troops will not move out all at once to avoid take over by the KKK and to assure that the peace will be kept as much as possible.Re-state the primary goal of reconstruction. (Thesis re-stated)
After the devastation that occurred between the north and south, large reconstruction measures must be made. The primary goals of this reconstruction era are racial equality, peace between the states, and economic re-growth. To ensure racial equality, freedmen and women will be granted citizenship and men will be granted the right to vote. To ensure peace between the side, military troops will keep both sides at ease. Their slow departure will allow all citizens to adjust to their new society with both races living together. To ensure the continuation of the economy after the loss of free labor, the south will be taxed to lessen the wartime debt and the north will be taxed to educate the recently freed men, women and children. Once they are properly educated it will be easier to attain a job and climb higher in the social ranks. Both sides will have to compromise in order to please the other, and to gain what they desire as well.Prepare a response to an "opposition" group. In your response you will need to point out the flaws and weaknesses and/or the strengths of their plan. The day after we present, be sure to upload your response at the bottom of their page. You will also need to be ready to challenge their plan in class, as their group presents.